Universal bottle closure



Jan. 3, 1956 N. zEPELQvl-rcl-l 2,729,354

UNIVERSAL BOTTLE CLOSURE me@ April 28, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1956 2,729,354

N. ZEPELOVITCH UNIVERSAL BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed April 28. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nw' 146 153 144 140 Z 5 7 1z0 /z ,101

INVENTOR.

2,729,354 H UNIVERSAL BOTTLE cLosURE Nathan Zepelovitch, New York, N. Y., assignor to Nahum A. Bernstein, New York, N Y.

Application April 28, 1950, Serial No. 158,642

14 claims. (cl. 21S-ss) This invention relates to Container or receptacle closure members and particularly to an improved closure member or stopper for use with bottles or containers of various sizes and dimensional characteristics.

Conventional bottle Stoppers or closure members arev usually restricted to use with a bottle or container of particular dimensions. Some Stoppers, suchas conven-` tional corks or rubber plugs must be forcibly inserted into the bottle mouth and are often diflicult to extract,`

particularly those made of cork, which oftentimes require the` use of a corkscrew with a usual accompanying crumbling of the stopper. material and pollution of the contents of the container. Crimped caps, such as the conventional bottle caps normally cannot be used for resealing purposes after initial removal from the mouth of the container. Closure members of the screw-on type` require containers having a threaded peripheral portion or cap-engaging abutments and are usuallylimited ,tof

use with a speciiically sized container, which precludes their use with containers of diiering dimensions.

This invention .may be briefly .described as a `closure member or stopperadapted, without change in Structure,

and without adjustment, tohermetically seal. bottles or containers of varying dimensions in a rapid and simple manner.

within a container. Associated with the retaining arms is a spring actuated continuous hermetic sealing surface of relatively large extent adapted to hermetically close the mouth of the container when said retaining arms are disposed therein in an extended'condition. Included in the invention are mechanical linkages for extending and retracting the retaining arms in accordance' with the positional relationshipof the sealing surface on .the shaft and simple and etlicient latching mechanisms for facilitating the insertion and removal of the .stopper from a container.

The-stopper embodied in the invention, through `the utilization of an enlarged sealing surface, `provides a simple` and eicient hermeticallyvsealihg closure member for containers of varying shapes and mouth dimensions.v

ln addition to providing an hermeticallysealing stopper independentof the shape of the container mouth, the stopper requires no adjustment for `adaptation to containers of different sizes and is simple and V'efficient in operation.

Closure members embodying the principle of this invention tnd utility in all cases where an hermetic seal associated with a swift opening and closure procedure is desired. Moreover, the adaptability of the stopper for use as a closure member for bottles of dilfering shapes and mouth dimensions is of decided practical utility. The stopper described herein, or a stopper constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, may be used with many different types of bottles or containers and nds use wherevera rapid and simple The stopper includes an axially disposed shaft having a pair of extendible retaining arms pivotally;v mounted on the end thereof `adapted to be positioned,

2,729,354 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 ICC . 2 a single stopper as a closure member for containers having a great variety of neck shapes and dimensions.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved hermetically Vsealing bottle stopper which may be used `with bottles of varying dimensional characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottle stopper adapted for use with containers of varying dimensions that is simple, rapid and etiicient in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle stopperthat is simple and inexpensive inv construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following disclosure and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose,

by way of example, the principles of the invention and the presently preferred embodiment of the closure members applying that principle.

Referring to the drawings:

with the mouth of acontainer;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section,

illustrating the closure member positioned immediately after insertion into, or immediately prior to removalfrom, the mouth of a container;

`the latching mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6; I

Fig. l2 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 3 isa sectionalview on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

VFig. 5 is a side elevational view, partially in section,'

illustrating the closure member with an alternative latching mechanism; v

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View, partially in section, illustrating the presently preferred type of latching mech anlsm;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7*-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line S--S of Fig. 6; Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are sectional views illustrating the essentialsof and a sequential positional relationship of Figs. 13 and 14 are side elevational views illustrating an embodiment of a portion of the preferred mechanical link agefor extending and retracting the retaining arms;

Fig. 15 is an elevation illustrating another portion of a mechanical linkage for extending and retracting the retaining arms; and

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line 16-16 of Fig. l5.'

Fig. l illustrates the closure member in closed sealing relationship with a container 1i) having a mouth 12 with raised glass threads 14 positioned on the outer peripheral surface thereof, such as that conventionally provided for a closure member of the type that screws onto and over the mouth of the bottle. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the positioning of the closure member immediately after insertion into, or immediatey prior to removal from, the mouth of the container illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 illustrates the closure member illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 with an alternative latching mechanism. Disposed axially within the mouth 12 of the container -1l) is an elongated smooth cylindrical shaft 16 made up of an upper and 'lower section threadedly engaged as at 17.

Pivotally mounted on lugs 22 and 24 secured to thel end of the shaft 16 adapted to be disposed within the container 10 are a pair of elongated retaining arms 18 and 20 illustrated in their extended position in Fig. 1

and in their retracted position adjacent the shaft 164 of i the shaft 16.

Referring now also toA Figs. 1'5' and' 16, slidably mounted on the shaft 16 and positioned intermediate the cover 26 and the retaining armsy 18 and 20 is a sleeve 28` supporting a horizontally disposed disc 30l of relatively rigidY material' having a deformable sealing' surface 32 bonded to the surface thereof facing theretaining arms 18A and 20. The sealing surface is adapted to reston' the mouth 12 ofthe container 10L and to hermetically seal the container. The disc 30 and the deformable sealing surface 32 are sized to lit' within the dependent portion 27' of the cover 26 and, as such, are of greater diameter than the diameter of the shaft' 16. The closure member may thus be used to hermetically seal bottles o'r containers whose diameter of mouth 12' is greater thanvthe relatively small diameter of the sleeve 28 and smaller than the rel'atively large diameter of the deformable sealing surface 32'. The diameter of the deformable sealing surface 32, disc 30, and cover 26 may be made as large as desired.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 16 and positioned within the sleeve 28 is a second sleeve 34'. The sleeve 34' is connected to the sleeve 28 by' a studl 36 ridingy in a suitably sized vertical slot 38 in the sleeve 28. The above described construction permits a predetermined limited' relative movement between the sleeves 34 and 28, the amount of said movement being determined by theextent of the slot 38. For displacements beyond this predetermined limit, the sleeves 28 and 34 move together. Mounted on the sleeve 34 and dependent therefrom substantially parallel to and spaced from the shaft 16 is an arm 40 terminating in pivotally mounted lever arms 42 and 44 which are connected at their other ends to the retaining arms 18 andy 20 a suitable distance from the lugs 22 and 24.

To provide an hermetic seal between the shaft 16 and the slidable sleeve 28, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4, there is provided an annular sealing element 46 supported by the sleeve 28 andv positioned between said member and the shaft 16. InV the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, a sealing element 48 mounted on the upper surface of the rigid plate 30 is provided to seal the interior of the container from the external atmosphere.

Mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve 28 is a spring member 50 adapted to engage a spring-receivingv slot 52 on the outer surface of the sleeve 34 to provide for` coordinated movement between said sleeve members 38 and 24- Disposed between the cover member 26- and the rigid disc 30 and located in suitable seats 53 and 55' tainer 10 with the retaining arms 18 and 20 positionedadjacent the shaft 16 and lowered into the container 10 until the deformable sealing element 32 rests upon the mouth 12. At the time of insertion the various members forming the stopper are positioned as illustrated' in Figs. 2 and 3. The latch spring 56 is contained within latch spring slot 58 with the spring member 54 compressed between the rigid disc 30 and the adjacent cover member 26. When the deformable sealing surface32 is placedl upon the mouth 12 of the container 10, the shaft 16 is positioned within the bottle 10 with the retracted retaining arms 18 and 2t) being positioned Well' beneath the mouth 12. At this position, the cover member l26- connected to the upper portion of the shaft 16 is manually' depressed and rotated an amount sutlicient to cause Vthe latching spring slot 58 embedded in the upper portionof the shaft 16 to be rotatably displaced out of engagement withthe latchl spring- 5 The depression` of the cover member 26 results in an increased frictional contact between the deformable sealing surface 32 and the mouth 12 of the container 10. This frictional contact serves to secure the lower portion of the shaft 16 against rotation for there is a direct mechanical. linkage between the deformable sealing surface 32, the` sleeve 28, the stud 36, the sleeve 34,. the: arnr 40 and' the retaining arms 18 and 20 pivotally connected to the lugs, 22 and 24 mounted on the lower portion ofthe shaft 16. When. the slot 58 is rotatively disengaged, as described above, from the latch spring 56,. the spring 547 forcesl the cover member 26 upwardly and away from the rigid disc 30 and the sealing surface 32I resting on' the mouth 12 of the container 10. Since the rigid disc 30 having the sealing surface 32 mounted on the underside thereof, is resting upon the mouth 12 of the container 10, the upward movement of the cover 26 moves the shaft 16 connected thereto upwardly with respect to the disc 30 andl the sealing surface' 32. As the shaft 16 moves upwardly, the sleeve 34 is maintained in its original position by the engagement of the spring 50' mounted on the sleeve 28 by the springreceivingA slot 52 embedded in the sleeve 34. The upward movement of the shaft 16 relative to the arm 40 mounted on thev sleeve 34' causes the retaining arms 18 and 20 to be pivotally extended through the connecting levers arms 4-2- and 44.

If the retaining arms 18 and 20 encounter the inside wall of the container 10 before they reach the limit of their extended movement and are thus halted in their outward and upward movement by such contact, the pressure of the spring 54 separating the cover member 26 and the rigid disc 30'results in a hermetic sealing of the mouth of the container bythe deformable sealing surface 32. The pressure of thev spring 54 assures a continued maintenance ofthe hermetic seal.

If, however, the retaining arms 18 and 20 are moved outwardly to their cxtreme position and further movement ofthe shaft' 16 relative to the arm 40 mounted on the sleeve 34V is limited by the pin 60` mounted on the shaft 16 abuttingthe arm 40, a continued upward movement ofthe shaft 16, under the inuence of the spring 54, results in an accompanying upward movement of the arm 40 and the sleeve 34 connected thereto relative to the sleeve 28 and' the sealing surface 32. The spring 50 riding in the slot 52 is of insuthcient strength to maintain the 'sleeves 28 and 34 in the positional relationship illustrated' in 1=ig.'2` against the action of the spring 54 when the retaining arms18 and 2,0'reach the limit of their extension. Thus after the retaining'arms 18 and 20 reach their limiting extended position, the retaining arms 18 and 20, together with the shaft 16 continue their upward movement until the retaining arms 18 and 20 abut a necked down portion of the container. This position is illustrated in Fig. l.

When the upward movement of the cover member 26 is arrested due to the engagement of the inner walls of the bottle 10 by the retaining arms 18 and 20, the spring 54 maintains a downward pressure on the rigid disc 30. The downward pressure on the rigid disc 30 results in a tight compressive relationship between the deformable member 32 andthe mouth 12 of the container 10 and results in a secure continuedhermetic seal therebetween.

Toretract the extended retaining arms 18 and 20 to facilitateremoval' of thestopper vfrom the container 10, all that is required is a manual downward pressure on the cover member 26. A downward pressure on the cover member 26 results in a downward displacement of the shaft 16 relativettov the sealing surface 32 which in turn resultsl in. a retraction, through the above described linkage, of the retaining,l arms 18 and 20 from their extended position illustrated inFig. l' to the retracted position illustratedinFig 2; The downward movement of the cover member 26 is continued until thelatch. spring 56 mounted on the upper portion of the rigid plate 30 engages the latch spring slot 58 embedded in` the shaft 16 adjacent `the cover member 26. After the latch spring 56 engages thelatch spring slot 58, the spring 54 is maintained in compressed relationship between the cover member 26 and the adjacent disc 30 and the parts are n the position illustrated in Fig. 2 with the spring 50 in the slot 52. With the retaining arms 18 and 20 latchedin retracted position the stopper may be easily removed from the mouth of the container and is ready for insertion in' the same for a different bottle or container.

Referring to Fig. 5, 'there is illustrated an alternative mechanism for latching the retaining arms in a retracted position. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, a pair of upwardly disposed hooks 66 are mounted on the periphery of the surface of the rigid disc 30 facing the cover member 26. Mounted on the inner surface of the cover member 26 and biased by a spring 70 mounted in spring mounting lugs 72 are a'pair of downwardly disposed hooks 68 positioned to engage the hooks 66 mounted in the surface of the rigid plate 30. The Vdownward manual movement ofthe cover member 26 during removal operations, as described above, results in engagement of the lhooks 66 by the hooks 68 and, after engagement thereof, the cover member 26 is maintained inlatched relationship adjacent the rigid disc 30 with `the retaining arms 18 and 20 in retracted position. To release the above described latch and to permit the spring 54 to force the cover member 26 upwardly and away from the rigid disc 30, the hooks 68 are provided with portions extendingV outwardly beyond the cover member. Manual inwardly directed pressure on these outwardly extending portions overcomes the force of the biasing spring 70 and results in disengagement of the hooks 68 from the hooks 66.r

After the disengagement ofthe hooks 68 from the hooks 66, the action described above with respect to the embodiment illustrated in'Figs.'1-4 for extending the retaining arms 18 and 20 takes place.

Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, there is illustrated an alternative and presently preferred embodiment of a portion of a linkage for extending and retracting the'retaining arms. In this embodiment a spade shaped plate 74 having a centrally disposed slot 76 is secured to av sleeve 78 mounting the sealing surfaces by a slot 80 in an extended arm 82 engaging a pin 84 mounted on the `sleeve 78. `The slot 76 encompasses a guiding nose 86 on the central shaft` 88. Pivotally mounted on lugs 90 and 92 on the base of the vshaft 88 are a pair of U-shaped retaining arms 94 and 96 provided with pins 97 and 98 positioned against the side of the spade shaped plate 74. With the elements positioned as illustrated in Fig. 13, the retaining arms 94 and 96 are maintained in a retracted position by the spring 99 and lie adjacent to and substantially parallel with the shaft 88. The upward movement of theshaft 88 through the action of the spring 54, as described above in conjunc-` tion with Figs. 1 through 5, moves the arms 94 and 96 upwardly with respect to the spade shaped'plate 74. 1The upward movement of the arms 94 and 96 results in `an outward camming action thereof due-to the movement lof the pins 97 and 98 along the sloped slides of the plate 74 until the arms reach the position illustrated in Fig. F14. The action of the slot 80 with the pin84 is similar to illustrated in Figs. l-5.

If pressure is applied to the ends of t'he extended retaining arms 94 and 96, the` applied pressure will not pf the plate 74 causes the resultant force to be applied [to the pins 97 and 98 at a line substantially perpendicular trated in Figs. V13 and 14 prevents a return of the retaining arms 18 and 20 to a retracted position by any force tending to forcibly remove the stopper from the container other than by depression of the outer cover as the action of the sleeves 28 and 34 in the embodiment" displace the arms, for the angular disposition ofthe sidesV to the sides of the plate 74. Thus .the structure illusdescribed above in conjunction with Figs. .1 through'S. .V Figs. 6 through 12` Villustratethe presently preferred embodiment of the latching mechanism to be used with the closure member described` in the earlier portions of this specification.. The latching mechanism, illustrated in, Figs. 6 through 12, may normally only be operated when the closure member is positioned in the mouth of a container. In this embodiment, a latching mechanism is `provided which normally may not be operated when the stopper is out of container and thus prevents accidental extension of the retaining arms which is usually accompanied by a spattering of any liquid material adhering thereto.

There is provided an axially disposed shaft`100 cor responding to the shaft 16 illustrated in Figs. l through 5. Threadedly engaged with the upper end of the shaft 100,is a hollow Washer 102. A cover member 104 having a downwardly dependent cylindrical portion 106, adapted to hood the mouth of the container, is threadedly engaged with and supported by the washer 102. It is to be noted that the cover member 104 is of much greater diameter than the diameter of the shaft 100 for the pur.- poses explained above in conjunction with Figs. 1 through 5. Slidably mounted on the shaft 100 and positioned beneath the cover 104 is a sleeve 108 supporting a horizontally disposed disc of relatively rigid material having a deformable sealing surface 112 bonded to the surface thereof facing the retaining arms, not shown in these figures. The disc 110 is sized to t within the downwardly dependent portion 106 of the cover 104. The sealing surface 112 is adapted to rest on the mouth of the container and to hermetically seal the container, asdescribed in the earlier portions of this specification.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 100 and spaced from the'rigid disc 110 by a spring 1714 is a second disc 116 of rigid material. A relatively strong spring 118 is positioned between the disc 116 and the hollow washer 102 and is completely shrouded by the cover member 104. This spring 118 corresponds both in structure and in function to the spring 54'of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5. Mounted on the upper surface of the disc 116 and positioned in sliding engagement with the peripheral surface of the shaft 100 is a latch spring 120. The latch spring 120is adapted to engage,

in latching relationship, a horizontally disposed latch spring receiving slot 122 embedded in the surface of theV shaft 100 a predetermined distance below the hollow washer 102 (see Fig. l2). When the latch spring 120 is positioned in the latch spring receiving slot 122, the spring 118 is maintained in compressed relationship between the washer 102 and the disc 116, the retaining arms being in a retracted position.

Positioned within the upper portion of the shaft 100 is a vertically disposed groove 124 having an exposed vertical slot 125 perpendicular to the latch receiving slot 122 (see Fig. l2). Contained within the lower portion of the groove 124 is a plate 126 having an upwardly disposed,conveX-curved cam surface 128. Perpendicularly connected to the plate 126 is a horizontally disposed shaft 130, which extends through suitable slots 132 in the periphery of the shaft 100, and is connected to and supported by the upper surface of the rigid disc 110. Through the above described linkage, the plate 126 will move vertically within the groove 124 n'accordance with movement of the disc 110 relative to the shaft 100. The convex-curved cam surface 128 of the plate 126 abuts a curved cam surface of a vertically displaceable plate 138 also contained within the groove 124.

The vertically displaceable plate 138 is provided with a downwardly dependent portion 139 extending adjacent to the plate 126. The upper end of the plate 138 is threadedly engaged with a button 144 contained within the hollow washer 102. The button 144 is biased upwardly by a spring 146 positioned between the upper surface of the hollow washer 102 and the underside of the button 144. Y

V Theredge of the plate 126 abutting the slot 125 isadaptmass-i ed.-y t9. be.. elevated. and: to. be disposed. adjacent. the,A honi.- ZQntallyY disposed latch. spring 1,20, positioned withinA the horizontally 4disposed latch spring receiving slot 122I whenv the disc 11.6 is moved, upwardly. When the plate/12,6 is positioned adjacent the latch spring 120 a horizontal displacement of said1 plate 12,6. resulting from the cam. action of thev curved; surfaces 128 and 140 whenI saidplate 138 is.- moved downwardly will displace the latch, springz 12,0. out; of the latch spring receiving slot 122.`

The curved cam surfaces of the plates 126 and 13,8 are shaped so that vertical displacement of both the plates 126, and 138. is required to horizontally displace the plaie. 12.6 a. sufficient amount to move the latch spr-ingv 120. outof engagement with the latch spring receiving slot 122. Movement of plate 138 alone in a vertical direction. when. the plate 126 is in its lower position does. not result in a horizontal displacement of the plate,126 which isv required to move the latch spring 120 out of latChiIlgengagement with the latch spring receiving slot 122.

Referring nowy particularly to Figs. l and 1l, the latchi-ng and delatching action ofthis embodiment will be described. When the closure member is placed in operative relationship with the mouth 152 of a container 153, the deformable sealing surface 112 rests upon the mouth 152 of the container 153. A slight downward pressure on the cover 104 will result in the deformable sealing surface 112 and the rigid disc 110 moving up.- wardly relative to the shaft lill), overcoming the force of thespring 11:4; until the disc 110 is positioned adjacent the disc 116. The upward movement of the disc 110 resultsl in an accompanying upward movement ofthe horizontally disposed shaft 130 and the plate 126 positioned within the groove 124. The upward movementof the plate 126 results in positioning said plate adjacentl the latch spring 120. A concurrent downward depression of the button 144 and the plate 138 connected thereto4 results in,v a horizontal displacement of the plate 1126, suiiicient, to move the latch spring 120 out of the latch spring receiving slot 1,22. When the latch spring 120 is displaced from the, latch springy receiving slot- 1,22, the

spring 118- moves the s haft 10G upwardly with respect to the, deformable sealing surface 112 resting on the mouth ofl the container and results in an extension o f the retaining armsanda hermetic sealing of the container as described above in connection with Figs. l through v5. The positioning of the plate 126 resulting sOlely from the vertical displacement thereof, is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. The, horizontal displacement of the plate 122,6; resulting from the vertical displacement Of both the plate 126 and theplate 138 is clearly illustrated in from the latch spring receiving slot 122.

Since a vertical displacement of the plate 126 will only; takeplace-when the disc 110 is moved adjacentthe. disc 116-. this portion of thev delatching action occurs.

when the deformable sealing surface is in engagement with the mouth of a container as illustrated in Figs. l0 and. lfl.

The 'actionl resulting from depression of the button 144 when the-closuremember is not in a sealing relationship with the mouth of the container is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this illustration, the plate 126 is positioned at the lower portion of the groove 124, the plates 110 and 116' being separated'by the action of the spring 114. A downward displacement of the button 1144 and the plate 138 connectedthereto results in a limited horizontal displacement of t-he plate 126 positioned below the latchingy spring 120 which fails to move the latch spring 120 out of the latchspring receiving slot- 122. Thus, depression of the button 144 when the closure member is not in sealing relationship with a container has no practical eect as the retaining arms remain: latched in their retractedi position.

"the @have described preferred' embodiment 0f.. the. iatenjag., mech anni. thu'may onlyl be operatively dis-- engaged; when. the.. clesnre member is ShQWn-V Within the month .of a. container preparatory t0 sealingv Operations- The delatchingl action. has been explained in, detail above. If the, clpsnre member is positioned in hermetic SealingZ relatinnshin in the. mouth of. the container with the, retaining: arms in an extended condition and it is desired to remove the closure member from said container, all that isV req,l.1i re dr is a manual downward. dis- Placement of; the cover. member 1.0.4- The downward displacemeni: of, the cover member 1,0 4 results in a downward displacement of said shaft relative to the latch springlZtl., A. sutiicientdownward movement will causel the latch springlv receiving slot 122 positioned on the surface, of the shaft 100l to engage the latch spring 120 as. shown. in Fig. 6. The retaining arms-are thus latched in the. retractedfncsitien.

Havingthus, deserihed', my invention, Iv claim:

1. A container stopper comprising, a shaft, a collar mQuntr-.d 01.1 Que. endf of Said. Shaft., a pair 0f retaining. arms. Rivotally. mounted on the` other end of said shaft, a sealing element slidably mounted on said shaft intermedillefaid Collar and said retaining arms, a link member diSpOSed intermediate said retaining arms and said sealing Velementand engaging said retaining arms, lost motion: means connectinglsaidlink member and said sealingy elementv in such. a, manner as to permit a predetermined' limited; axiall telescopio movement of said link member withy respect tofsaid sealing element for extending and retnacting-J said retaining arms in response to displacement. of said, 4sealing element on said shaft relative tosaid; collar member, and a.4 spring operatively connected intermediate said collar member andsaid sealing elementfornormally biasing. said; sealing element in a position extending said retaining arms.

A2.y Iihe inyention, ask setl f orth in claim l, including means for releasably. latching saidl sealing element adjacentV said` c ollar member in position retracting said retaining. arms..

3. A` container stopper comprising, a shaft, a cover member mounted on.- one end of said shaft, a pair of extendible retaining arms pivotally mounted at the other endl of said. shaft, a sealing element slidably mounted ony said shaft intermediate said cover member and said extendible.retaining-4 arms, a link member disposed intermediate said,retaining1 arms and said sealing element and engaging s aid, retaining arms lost motion means c0nnectingl said' link member and saidsealing element in suchI a manneras to permit` a predetermined limited axial telescopic, movement, of said link member with respeetI tosa id-,sealing;element for pivotally. extending and retraet-,ingsaifi11C-taining,armsin accordance with the spacing between said.- Sealing-element and Said retaining arms, anda spring; operatively connected intermediate said cover memben and said sealing element for normally biasing said` sealingv element, adjacent said retainingv arms.

4.v A.r container stopper comprising, a shaft substantially nonfrotatable along the major portion of its length, a coyermember mounted on one end of said shaft, a nait Qi.. entendible, retaining arms. pivotally mounted 0n the other end of said shaft, a rigid disc slidably mounted onsaidshait; and positioned intermediate said cover memberandy saidretaining arms, a sealing surface mounted on. said; disc and'disposed-facing said retaining arms, a link member.- disposed intermediate said retaining arms and said rigid? disc and engagingv said retaining arms, lost motion-means connecting said link member and said rigid; disc i'nsuch a manner as to permit a predetermined limitedaxial telescopic movement of said link member with respecty to said rigid' disc for extending and rctractingy` said retaining arms, in' accordance with the spacing be` tween, said'disc'and4 said retaining arms, and a spring operatively connectedl intermediate saidcover member and said rigid disc for normally biasing said disc adjacent said retaining arms.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, including, means for releasably latching said rigid disc adjacent said cover member.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 4, including, a latching spring member positioned on said rigid disc abutting said shaft, a groove in said shaft adjacent said cover member sized to contain said latching spring member and positioned to receive said latching spring member when said rigid disc is positioned adjacent said cover member, and means permitting manual rotative displacement of the portion of said shaft containing said groove with respect to the remainder of said shaft for rotatably disengaging said groove from said latching spring member.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 4, including, a pair of hook members mounted on said cover member, a second pair of hook members mounted on said rigid disc being positioned to latchingly engage said hook members mounted on said cover member when said cover member is disposed adjacent said rigid disc, and means for manually displacing said hook members mounted on said cover member to disengage said members from latching relationship With said second pair of hook members.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 4, with means for releasably latching said sealing element adjacent said collar member in position retracting said retaining arms, comprising, a latching spring member abutting said shaft, a latchingl groove in 'said shaft sized to receive said latching spring member, a first plate contained within said shaft vertically displaceable into position abutting said latching groove in response to a vertical displacement of said sealing element, and a vertically displaceable second plate contained within said shaft and having a curved cam surface abutting said rst plate for horizontally displacing said iirst plate in response to vertical displacement of said second plate, said rst plate being positioned so that a horizontal displacement thereof in response to vertical displacement of said second plate when it is located abutting said latching groove is required for disengaging said latching spring member from said latching groove.

9. A container stopper comprising, a substantially non-rotatable shaft, a substantially cup-shaped cover member mounted on one end of said shaft, a pair of extendible retaining arms pivotally mounted at the other end of said shaft, a disc of relatively undeformable material sized to iit Within said cover member slidably mounted on said shaft intermediate said cover member and said retaining arms, a lamina of deformable sealing material mounted on the surface of said disc facing said retaining arms, a link member disposed intermediate said retaining arms and said disc and engaging said retaining arms, lost motion means connecting said link member and said disc in such a manner as to permit a predetermined limited axial telescopic movement of said link member with respect to said disc for extending said retaining arms When said disc is adjacent thereto and retracting said retaining arms when said disc is remote therefrom, and a spring operatively connected intermediate said cover member and said rigid disc for normally biasing said disc so as to extend said retaining 10. The invention as set forth in claim 9, including means for releasably latching said rigid disc adjacent said cover member.

11. A container stopper, comprising, a shaft, a collar mounted on one end of said shaft, a pair of retaining arms pivotally mounted on the other end of said shaft, a sealing element positioned on a sleeve member slidably mounted on said shaft intermediate said collar and said retaining arms, a mechanical linkage connecting said sleeve member and said retaining arms for pivotally extending and retracting said retaining arms in accordance with the spacing between said sealing element and said retaining arms, including a second sleeve member positioned intermediate said first mentioned sleeve member and said shaft and connected to said irst mentioned sleeve member in such a manner as to permitA a predetermined limited axial telescopic movement with respect thereto, an arm supported by said second sleeve member and positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from said shaft, and a pair of lever arms connecting said arm and said retaining arms for extending and retracting said retaining arms in response to displacement of said second sleeve member; and a spring positioned intermediate said collar and said sealing element for normally biasing said sealing element in a position extending said retainingarms. y

12. A container stopper, comprising, a shaft, a collar member mounted on one end of said shaft, a pair of retaining arms pivotally mounted on the other end of said shaft, a sealing element positioned on a sleeve member slidably mounted on said shaft intermediate said collar and said retaining arms, a mechanical linkage connecting said sleeve member and said retaining arms for pivotally extending and retracting said retaining arms in accordance with the spacing between said sealing element and said retaining arms, including, a spade-shaped plate having angularly disposed edges connected to said sleeve member in such a manner as to permit a predetermined limited axal telescopic movement with respect thereto, pin members mounted on said retaining arms positioned against the edges of said plate for pivotally displacing said retaining arms in response to displacement of said plate; and a spring positioned intermediate said collar and said sealing element for normally biasing said sealing element in a position extending said retaining arms.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12, including means for releasably latching said sealing element adjacent said collar member in position retracting said retaining arms.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 12 With means for releasably latching said sealing element adjacent said collar member in position retracting said retaining arms, comprising a latching spring member abutting said shaft, a latching groove-in said shaft sized to receive said latching spring member, a first plate contained Within said shaft vertically displaceable into position abutting said latching groove in response to a vertical displacement of said sealing element, and a vertically displaceable second plate contained within said shaft and having a curved cam surface abutting said first plate for horizontally displacing said rst plate in response to vertical displacement of said second plate, said rst plate being positioned so that a horizontal displacement thereof in response to vertical displacement of said second plate when it is located abutting said latching groove is required for disengaging said latching spring member from said latching groove.

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